Dallas quarterback Tony Romo delivers in the clutch during a 27-23 victory against the Minnesota Vikings

Romo has been heavily criticized for his inability to win close games with the Cowboys. Most NFL observers know Romo has only one playoff win on his résumé. There were plenty of people who questioned why Romo was rewarded with a six-year deal with $108 million prior to this season.

However, Romo proved he is not the quarterback people have routinely criticized during a 27-23 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Dallas trailed Minnesota 23-20 with 2:44 minutes remaining, and that is when Romo performed like an elite NFL quarterback.

Romo completed 7-of-9 passes, including a 34-yard throw to receiver Dez Bryant, on Dallas’ game-winning drive. He capped off the scoring drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Harris with 42 seconds remaining, which gave Dallas a 27-23 lead.

Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder attempted to lead his team to dramatic comeback, but was unable to duplicate the magic of Detroit’s Matthew Stafford’s last week. Stafford led Detroit to a six-play, 80-yard drive, in 50 seconds for a come-from-behind victory against Dallas in Week 8.

However, Romo delivered on Sunday.

“As a quarterback, you love to be in those situations,” Romo told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “You have to have that belief that you can win the football game. You don’t have doubts. You don’t believe that you’re not going to score.”

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett praised Romo after Sunday's game.

“Tony was fantastic. Everyone around him made positive plays,” Garrett told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “It was a great drive.”